Texas inmate to die this week loses at court, parole board

Juan Castillo, of San Antonio, was convicted of killing a teenage rapper during a botched robbery.

Juan Castillo, of San Antonio, was convicted of killing a teenage rapper during a botched robbery.

Photo: Courtesy Photo

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Texas leads the nation's death penalty states in executions.

Scroll through the gallery for inmates who are currently on death row for convictions in the San Antonio area — and some who were recently executed.

Texas leads the nation's death penalty states in executions.

Scroll through the gallery for inmates who are currently on death row for convictions in the San Antonio area — and some who were recently executed.

Photo: PAT SULLIVAN, File

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Armando Leza

Age entered death row: 32

Execution: Still on death row

Summary: Leza was convicted of killing a disabled woman then stealing items from her home to later sell for drugs.

Armando Leza

Age entered death row: 32

Execution: Still on death row

Summary: Leza was convicted of killing a disabled woman then stealing items from her home to later sell for drugs.

Photo: WILLIAM LUTHER, File Photo

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Joseph Gamboa

Age entered death row: 24

Execution: Still on death row

Summary: Gamboa was convicted of burglarizing a business and shooting and killing two men.

Joseph Gamboa

Age entered death row: 24

Execution: Still on death row

Summary: Gamboa was convicted of burglarizing a business and shooting and killing two men.

Photo: File Photo

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Joe Luna

Age entered death row: 26

Execution: Still on death row

Summary: Luna was convicted of choking, robbing and killing a man in his home. He later came back and burned the residence.

Joe Luna

Age entered death row: 26

Execution: Still on death row

Summary: Luna was convicted of choking, robbing and killing a man in his home. He later came back and burned the residence.

Photo: File Photo

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Christopher Anthony Young

Age entered death row: 22

Execution: Still on death row

Summary: Young was convicted of shooting and killing a man during a robbery.

Christopher Anthony Young

Age entered death row: 22

Execution: Still on death row

Summary: Young was convicted of shooting and killing a man during a robbery.

Photo: File Photo

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Juan Edwardo Castillo

Age entered death row: 24

Execution: Still on death row

Summary: Castillo was convicted of fatally shooting a 19-year-old Hispanic male after demanding his money.

Juan Edwardo Castillo

Age entered death row: 24

Execution: Still on death row

Summary: Castillo was convicted of fatally shooting a 19-year-old Hispanic male after demanding his money.

Photo: COURTESY SAPD

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Taichin Preyor

Age entered death row: 34

Execution: Executed July 27, 2017

Summary: Preyor was convicted of stabbing and killing his 20-year-old girlfriend in her apartment.

Taichin Preyor

Age entered death row: 34

Execution: Executed July 27, 2017

Summary: Preyor was convicted of stabbing and killing his 20-year-old girlfriend in her apartment.

Photo: File Photo

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Geronimo Rene Gutierrez

Age entered death row: 24

Execution: Still on death row

Summary: Gutierrez was convicted of abducting a man in a convenience store parking lot and killing him in a secluded location. Gutierrez went back to the scene and set the body on fire after seeing the incident on the news.

Summary: Wood and Daniel E. Reneau robbed a service station on Jan. 2, 1996, in Kerrville and killed the attendant, a man, in the process. Wood and Reneau took the store safe and cash box containing about $11,350 and a VCR containing a security tape

Summary: Vasquez was convicted of strangling and robbing a woman for the Mexican Mafia for failing to pay them.

Manuel Vasquez

Age entered death row: 31

Execution: March 11, 2015

Summary: Vasquez was convicted of strangling and robbing a woman for the Mexican Mafia for failing to pay them.

Photo: SPECIAL, File Photo

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Arnold Prieto

Age entered death row: 21

Execution: Jan. 21, 2015

Summary: Prieto was convicted of robbing and stabbing and killing three elderly people, including his great- uncle and aunt.

Arnold Prieto

Age entered death row: 21

Execution: Jan. 21, 2015

Summary: Prieto was convicted of robbing and stabbing and killing three elderly people, including his great- uncle and aunt.

Photo: File Photo

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Tommy Lynn Sells

Age at execution: 49

Execution: April 3, 2014

Summary: Sells pleaded guilty in 2003 to strangling a 9-year-old girl during Fiesta in 1999. However, he was first sent to death row by Val Verde County for the December 1999 murder of a 13-year-old girl, and an attack on her 10-year-old friend.

Summary: Esparza was convicted for kidnapping and sexually assaulting a 7-year-old girl before strangling her to death.

Guadalupe Esparza

Age at execution: 46

Execution: Nov. 16, 2011

Summary: Esparza was convicted for kidnapping and sexually assaulting a 7-year-old girl before strangling her to death.

Photo: File Photo

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Frank Martinez Garcia

Age at execution: 39

Execution: Oct. 27, 2011

Summary: Garcia was convicted of shooting and killing his wife and a police officer. His 5-year-old daughter witnessed both murders.

Frank Martinez Garcia

Age at execution: 39

Execution: Oct. 27, 2011

Summary: Garcia was convicted of shooting and killing his wife and a police officer. His 5-year-old daughter witnessed both murders.

Photo: File Photo

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Humberto Leal Jr.

Age at execution: 38

Execution: July 7, 2011

Summary: Leal, Jr. was convicted in the abduction, rape and bludgeoning death of a 16-year-old girl.

Humberto Leal Jr.

Age at execution: 38

Execution: July 7, 2011

Summary: Leal, Jr. was convicted in the abduction, rape and bludgeoning death of a 16-year-old girl.

Photo: File Photo

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Joshua Maxwell

Age at execution: 31

Execution: March 11, 2010

Summary: Maxwell was convicted for shooting and killing a Bexar County deputy sheriff and dumping his body behind a strip mall.

Joshua Maxwell

Age at execution: 31

Execution: March 11, 2010

Summary: Maxwell was convicted for shooting and killing a Bexar County deputy sheriff and dumping his body behind a strip mall.

Photo: Brett Coomer, File Photo

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Reginald W. Blanton

Age at execution: 28

Execution: Oct. 27, 2009

Summary: Blanton was convicted of shooting, killing and robbing a man in his apartment.

Reginald W. Blanton

Age at execution: 28

Execution: Oct. 27, 2009

Summary: Blanton was convicted of shooting, killing and robbing a man in his apartment.

Photo: File Photo

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Luis Cervantes Salazar

Age at execution: 38

Execution: March 11, 2009

Summary: Salazar was convicted of crawling through a woman's window, attempting to sexually assault her and stabbing and killing her. The woman's 10-year-old son was also stabbed but escaped and called police.

Summary: Brown was convicted for shooting, killing and attempting to rob a man. Brown was also a known member of the Crips street gang.

Mauriceo M. Brown

Age at execution: 31

Execution: July 19, 2006

Summary: Brown was convicted for shooting, killing and attempting to rob a man. Brown was also a known member of the Crips street gang.

Photo: File Photo

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Andrew Flores

Age at execution: 32

Execution: Sept. 21, 2004

Summary: Flores was convicted in the murder and robbery of a convenience store clerk. Flores and his accomplice left with $44 and the clerk's car keys but couldn’t get the car to start. They escaped on foot.

Summary: Alexander was convicted of capital murder for raping and strangling a waitress.

Caruthers Alexander

Age at execution: 52

Execution: Jan. 29, 2001

Summary: Alexander was convicted of capital murder for raping and strangling a waitress.

Photo: File Photo

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John Thomas Satterwhite

Age at execution: 53

Execution: Aug. 16, 2000

Summary: Satterwhite was convicted for shooting and killing a woman working at a grocery store after she gave him and his accomplice money from the register. The pair was arrested the next day after getting pulled over for speeding.

Summary: Cannon was convicted for shooting and killing the sister of his court-appointed attorney for a burglary charge.

Joseph John Cannon

Age at execution: 38

Execution: April 22, 1998

Summary: Cannon was convicted for shooting and killing the sister of his court-appointed attorney for a burglary charge.

Photo: File Photo

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Michael Lee Lockhart

Age at execution: 37

Execution: Dec. 9, 1997

Summary: Lockhart was convicted for shooting and killing a Beaumont police officer who tried to arrest Lockhart for driving a stolen vehicle. Lockhart also faced capital murder charges in Florida and Indiana.

Summary: Adanandus was convicted for shooting and killing a man in the foyer of Continental Bank. The man was attempting to stop Adanandus from leaving the bank with $10,000 he stole from a bank teller.

Summary: Sattiewhite was convicted for kidnapping and killing his ex-girlfriend in a downtown parking lot. Sattiewhite's ex had contacted officials more than a month before her death trying to keep Sattiewhite away from her.

Summary: Hammond was convicted for breaking into an FBI secretary's apartment and stabbing, raping and killing her. A few hours after his conviction, Hammond escaped from Bexar County Jail. He was found the next day and two sergeants were fired for letting him escape.

Summary: Marquez was convicted of raping, strangling and killing his 18-year-old wife and 14-year-old niece.

Mario Marquez

Age at execution: 36

Execution: Jan. 17, 1995

Summary: Marquez was convicted of raping, strangling and killing his 18-year-old wife and 14-year-old niece.

Photo: FILE PHOTO, San Antonio Express-News

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Walter Key Williams

Age at execution: 32

Execution: Oct. 5, 1994

Summary: Williams was convicted in the fatal shooting of a man at a Circle K Food Store, where Williams used to work.

Walter Key Williams

Age at execution: 32

Execution: Oct. 5, 1994

Summary: Williams was convicted in the fatal shooting of a man at a Circle K Food Store, where Williams used to work.

Photo: File Photo

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Ruben Montoya Cantu

Age at execution: 26

Execution: Aug. 24, 1993

Summary: Montoya was convicted for breaking into a San Antonio home, with an accomplice, where he robbed and shot two men nine times each. One victim died and one lived to testify against them in court.

HOUSTON (AP) — The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles has refused a clemency petition from a 36-year-old San Antonio man set for execution this week for a robbery-slaying more than 14 years ago.

The panel's 6-0 vote Monday came hours after Juan Castillo lost a U.S. Supreme Court appeal.

The high court refused to review arguments that Castillo's due process rights were violated related to trial testimony from a jail inmate who said Castillo, while locked up awaiting trial, told him about killing 19-year-old Tommy Garcia Jr. The inmate years later recanted his testimony, saying he made up the story.

Castillo is set for execution Wednesday.

The high court Monday also declined an appeal from Eric Williams, condemned for the 2013 killings of Kaufman County District Attorney Mike McLelland and his wife.

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